UGA report card: Bulldogs get a ‘B’ for effort against ULM

ATHENS — Georgia defeated Louisiana-Monroe 51-14 on Saturday in a game shortened to 50 minutes and 6 seconds due to mysterious invisible lightning. Following are the grades the Bulldogs deserved based on that overall effort:

OFFENSE: B

Normally, 435 yards and 51 points would get you an “A.” But the No. 9-ranked Bulldogs were facing a team that went 4-8 in the Sun Belt Conference a year ago and actually had a few struggling stretches within the game. But at the end of it, their running backs collected 243 yards, they failed to complete only four of 14 passes and quarterback Greyson Lambert got his shirt dirtied only once. So good, but not great.

DEFENSE: C

This grade is more reflective of the one defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt gave his group. They really weren’t that bad, giving up 251 total yards on 55 plays. But Georgia really seemed to lose focus and was on its heels in the middle of the game as the Warhawks passed their way to consecutive touchdowns. Championship teams don’t give up any touchdowns to a bunch like this. But there were a lot of positives here.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Georgia blocked two punts in a game for only the fifth time in school history, Collin Barber recorded touchbacks on four of six kickoffs and the Bulldogs were solid on returns despite missing Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring). Marshall Morgan, who has been hampered lately with a groin pull, was not called on to kick any field goals.

COACHING: B

Not a whole lot to fault here. The team losing focus for brief periods in the game could be assigned to coaching, and Brian Schottenheimer’s opening-series play-calling was very conservative and ineffective. But Georgia was more ready coming out of the first lightning delay and you can’t fault the personnel decisions that were made, including starting Lambert at quarterback. So it was a good day.

OVERALL: B

A stress-free win over an over-matched opponent is always a good thing. We’ll learn more about the 2015 Bulldogs as they take on a road test at Vanderbilt next Saturday.